Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

Victorian premier slams report on fairy tales under threat based on gender bias

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has slammed reports fairy tales could be at risk of being toned down in public schools due to gender bias.

“The only fairy tale I read was on the front page of the Herald Sun,” Mr Andrews said at a press conference today.

The News Corp report said the government planned to address family violence in the Respectful Relationships program by having students analyse the role of men and women in much-loved tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel.

A teaching aid told the newspaper children would “identify gendered messages fairy tales give readers”, and be encouraged to look at the stereotypical portrayals of men and women, like women needing to be saved by a prince.

Do fairy tales promote gender bias?

Yes

274

No

2466

Psychologist Sandy Rea said the idea was a promising measure to act on recommendations from the royal commission into family violence.

“People are saying ‘this is really upsetting, children should be allowed to read fairy tales’, but it’s not actually about that. It’s about getting children to engage in critical thinking about how violence occurs in the family and relationships,” Mr Rae said on the TODAY Show.

“Gender is about how people behave – their thoughts and beliefs. It’s about assertiveness, standing up for your rights, and saying ‘what is the role of men and women in relationships?”